Legislation that would legalize marijuana for all uses for everyone 18 and older has been filed in the Indiana Legislature.
Republican State Representative Zach Payne (R) filed House Bill 1410 today in the House of Representatives. The measure was quickly assigned to the Committee on Courts and Criminal Code.
The proposed law, according to its legislative summary, “Legalizes the sale and use of cannabis by a person at least 18 years of age”, and “Requires the Indiana department of health to establish a program to issue a medical cannabis identification card to a patient whose physician has recommended cannabis to treat a medical condition.”
The measure also “Permits the sale of cannabis to a person less than 18 years of age if the person has been issued a medical cannabis identification card, and exempts purchases by a medical cannabis cardholder from sales tax. Makes conforming amendments.”
If passed into law, Indiana would become the 25 state to legalize recreational marijuana, but the first to do so for those 18 to 20.
For the full text of House Bill 1410, click here.
A separate measure also filed this week – House Bill 1349 – would decriminalize the possession of up to two ounces of marijuana while retaining laws that prohibit its distribution.
In November a legislative study committee held a hearing to discuss the potential of decriminalizing or legalizing marijuana in Indiana, with the meeting lasting nearly seven hours.
